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peashooter

peashooter

1 8.6
A person or thing that is weak and not effective
  • noun
  • /ˈpiːˌʃuːtər/
  • Offensive
translation icon : don nadie
  • He felt like a peashooter in a room full of tanks.

Examples

  • The new software was a peashooter compared to the advanced programs used by competitors.

  • The team's defense was a peashooter against their powerful rivals.

  • Calling him a peashooter in the debate was an obvious insult to his influence.

  • Their arguments were mere peashooters against the overwhelming evidence presented.

  • His arguments against climate change were like a peashooter compared to the strong scientific evidence supporting it.

  • In the debate, her remarks felt like a peashooter when balanced against the powerful rhetoric of her opponent.

  • Using a single banner to promote the event was a peashooter effort in a city that thrives on grand displays.

Synonyms

little man
vspeashooter
  • Informal
39 6.5

A person who feels small and powerless against those in power

refers to someone weak or ineffective rather than only feeling powerless
lightweight
vspeashooter
  • Offensive
14 5.8

A person or thing of little importance

focuses on being weak and ineffective rather than mere lack of influence
piker
vspeashooter
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person others think is petty and unimportant

focuses on lack of power or strength rather than small minded pettiness
jellybean
vspeashooter
  • Offensive
1 8.4

Someone or something people see as weak and not important

is about being weak and ineffective compared with something stronger
small fry
vspeashooter
  • Offensive
1 6.9

People or groups seen as unimportant compared to others

is about weakness or ineffectiveness especially versus stronger things

How Powerful

powerhouse
57 4.5
contender
152 3.5
underdog
73 3.7
peashooter
  • Offensive
1 8.6
nonentity
  • Offensive
3 8.1

Surface Forms

peashooter singular
peashooters plural

Morphology

peashooter = pea + shooter (semi-transparent) = pea + shoot + er

The word is formed by compounding 'pea' and 'shooter' (shoot + -er), a morphologically clear structure.

Etymology

Peashooter is also used to call a person or thing weak or unimportant by comparing them to the tiny toy that fires a pea. So if someone or something is called a peashooter, it means they are small or not very powerful.